Posts tagged ISKCON
Mid-day meals nourish 1.2m underprivileged children
30 April 2012
Government of India’s flagship project, ‘Mid-day meals’ continues to nourish more and more underprivileged children, now benefiting approximately 12,00,000 children in India. This is in view of a recent ‘Hunger and Malnutrition’ survey that puts the number of malnourished children in the country at 42 per cent.
Mumbai: Mid-day meal is a strategic program to liberate the underprivileged children from scourge of hunger and malnutrition, this program is a project of the Government of India, and is being implemented by ISKCON Food Relief Foundation under the brand name of ANNAMRITA in selected schools in Delhi, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttaranchal, Jharkhand and Assam.
ISKCON Food Relief Foundation is a non-profit, non-religious, non-sectarian charitable trust. This project is being implemented in Government aided, and municipal schools for the benefit of underprivileged children. It is done without any commercial motive and the benefits are available to students at large without any discrimination on grounds of religion, caste, creed or sex.
Since the launch in 2004, state-of-the-art kitchens in the above mentioned states have been set up. As of now, the scheme caters approximately 12,00,000 children every day from our centres in Mira Bhayander, Palghar, Nigdi, Tardeo, Juhu, Wada, Delhi, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Noida, Kurukshetra, Palwal, Tirupati, Nellore, Rajahmundry, Kadapa, Ranga Nara Gadda, Vishakhapatnam, Jaipur, Guwahati, Panipat, Haridwar, Jamshedpur and Ujjain.
Most of these children come from slums and tribal areas. The purpose of implementing this scheme is to facilitate the Government in increasing the enrollment in these schools, reducing the drop out rate, and improving the attendance. Also as these are the formative years for the future adult, therefore nutrition is of prime importance.
Corporate bodies such as Accenture, Piramal Group, Reliance Industries, Sterlite, Apar Industries, Mafatlal Industries, Yash Birla Group, Glaxo Smith Kline, DSP Merill Lynch, JSW Group, Godrej, HDFC, Raymonds have been kind enough to support the program with their benevolence. Individuals such as Mr. Alfred Ford of the Ford Motor Company, Late Shri Sunil Dutt, Smt. Indu Jain have given their unstinted support to bring the program to the present level.
With a generous contribution, for the cause of the underprivileged children in India, ISKON foundation hopes to maximise the capacity of this program by setting up more kitchens to cater to more schools and increase the number of beneficiaries many folds.
The professionally managed Mid-day meal program has trained cooks, who use the most advanced technology in cooking under hygienic conditions using fresh and pure ingredients.
The meals are packed and sealed in specially designed stainless steel containers and are transported in vehicles most suited for the logistics. Cooked in the most cost-effective manner, the nutritious, sumptuous and sanctified meal consists of different menus such as khichadi (a mix of rice, dal and vegetables, cooked in pure ghee with spices and tomatoes), Chapati, Subji, Rice Sambar, etc according to local tastes.
Foundation caters to over 2,75,000 children in Maharashtra daily .
The cost of providing food for 1 child for 1 entire year is just Rs 900
Recently ISKCON Food Relief Foundation participated in the first ever Lifebuoy National Child Health Symposium and Awards. Out of the hundreds of entries received ISKCON Food Relief Foundation was awarded as a leading organisation in the sphere of child health with an outstanding contribution in the area of nutrition.
SOURCE: ONEWORLD South Asia
Fiji Flood victims get help from FFL
Apr 5th
Fiji Islands April 5, 2012
Report by Bir Krishna Goswami
Tens of thousands have been forced from their homes.
A major disaster has just hit the Fiji Islands, in the South Pacific. Torrential rains lasting over a week have caused the worst flooding in the history of the nation. Major rivers have over flooded their banks burying towns along with the their business and residential districts.
Many people were trapped on their rooftops and had to be rescued by helicopters or boats. People lost their lives in the unexpecteded calamity that occured while they were still sleeping in their beds.
Over 25,000 people lost their homes, Approximately 100,000 are without adequate food, water, or clothing. Over 5,000 businesses have lost everything; their stock, their stores, their furniture and will be without any income. The infrastructure (roads,electricity, water supply) is in shambles. Crops are completely damaged. Food is hard to come by and when it is available it is too expensive for most people to afford.
Hare Krishna Food for Life, the world’s largest Vegetarian relief organization has mobilized their resources to feed, and clothe tens of thousands of people. So far over 15,000 people are being fed by the volunteers of this organization. Many people are stepping forward to provide foodstuffs for Food for Life to cook hot meals for the homeless, and clothes to replace the clothes that were destroyed by the floods.
Food for Life can help more people, but their need more resources in the form of foodstuffs, clothes, bedding, medical supplie school supplies, or money.
HOW TO HELP
If you are interested in helping the situation by volunteering or providing any of these necessities contact: Dr. Rajesh Maharaj (Food for Life Fiji Coordinator) at:
Telephone +679 (country code) 992 6349.
Or International Food Life Coordinator BK Goswami at: bkgoswami@earthlink.net
Tax deductible donations can also be directed to Food for Life Global who will be supporting relief efforts. DONATE NOW
FFL in Ecuador
Mar 5th
FFL Ecuador team serving pure food
January 2012 – Winter season came to Ecuador bringing torrential rains and suffocating waves of heat. However, the radical weather patterns were not enough to deter the FFL volunteers from Guayaquil, Ecuador. Taking time out from their busy family lives and business, the volunteers consistently devote time to the service others.
Over 500 people were waiting in the town of El Consuelo to experience the prasadam from Food for Life. The journey there from the FFL kitchen in Guayaquil takes almost two hours. Nonetheless, the volunteers enjoyed the spectacular scenery, watching the dramatic landscapes unfold before them, bedecked with flowers of all colors and lush green vegetation responding to the winter rainfalls. The journey took a little longer than anticipated and so some of the families went home. However, the FFL team immediately went to community leaders to announce from house to house of their arrival. Making use of the bells of a beautiful church, a large crowd once again gathered for lunch! Buckets of delicious vegan rice and lentil stew, pastries and herbal teas were being passed children and adults. The smiles and words of praise kept coming and mental images will last in our memory forever.
The following week, hundreds of others were the beneficiaries of a traditional vegan rice and lentil stew, fried sweets, and aromatic teas, prepared just hours before by a group of enthusiastic FFL volunteers.
Many members of the community and of other organisations join the FFL Ecuador team each week for the experience of distributing free vegan lunches. Some weeks, due to budget constraints, the FFL Ecuador team is only able to feed 300 people, but the joy of helping even a few people with a warm plate of food prepared with love is amazing! Our small gesture of kindness, melts the hearts of everyone and soon their love comes back to use in the form of hugs, laughter and finally running after our car as we try to leave!
Recently, the Addictions Rehabilitation Centre (ACE prison) was chosen as the place to serve our vegan meals. With the help of volunteer Jimmy Cassinelli, we were welcomed by the authorities and inmates of the place. This time, FFL cooks made a special menu of delicious fried rice with an equally rich chili sauce and aromatic drinks. At least 50 inmates enjoyed the experience of pure food made with love.
Information for this report and photos provided by Gopi Gandharvica
FFL Volunteers
To learn more about FFL in Ecuador, see their blog
ISKCON Food Relief – simply the best in quality and quantity
Jul 1st
Food for Life Global affiliate, ISKCON Food Relief Foundation has set the standard for quality nutritious lunches for school children. The organisation continues to expand its popular lunch service all throughout India. The fact that the non-profit can maintain such a high standard of quality, while serving over 250,000 meals daily is astonishing to say the least.
ISKCON State of the art kitchen
THE SETTING
Hunger and illiteracy are two of India’s most widespread and pressing problems. Although public schooling is offered free of cost to children aged 6–14, poverty bars the underprivileged from taking advantage. Typically hailing from slums and tribal areas, such children must either go hungry at school or resort to begging and child labor.
In 2004, the Government of Maharashtra appointed Midday Meal to provide nutritional support for primary school children. The initiative aims to break the hunger cycle by providing impoverished families the incentive to keep their children in school—and off the streets. Midday Meal is a non-profit strategic program run for the benefit of all hungry students without consideration of caste, religion, or gender. For most children, it is their only complete meal of the day.
ISKCON Midday Meal Trucks
THE IMPACT
Numerous studies have demonstrated that there is a direct correlation between these lunch programs and increased student enrollment, attendance, attention spans, and exam scores. Other benefits include reductions in skin infection, anemia, and marked improvements in body mass index.
STATE OF THE ART PROCESS
Midday Meal’s four ISO-certified, custom-built kitchens mass-produce meals which are hygienic, nutritious, tasty, and cost-effective. To feed one student costs only ten cents per day, or $20.35 per school year.
Midday Meal’s logistical infrastructure is a marvel of engineering ingenuity. Its unique solutions include:
- automated conveyor belt
- steam-jacketed cauldrons (660 lb. capacity)
- tamper-proof stainless steel containers
- computerized recipes
- flight-kitchen grade ventilation and drainage
- rack-fitted delivery vehicles
4 kitchens + 55 cooks + 69 vans + 1225 schools + 4500 miles = 250,000 smiles
“Meals for 24,000 children can be prepared, in two shifts per day, by only five persons. The kitchen was so spotlessly clean that I wondered if it was yet to become operational.”
—Sudheendra Kulkarni
(The Economic Times, Mumbai)
Happy children enjoying their free lunch
CONTACT
Director
ISKCON Food Relief Foundation
7 K. M. Munshi Marg, Chowpatty, Mumbai 400007
Mobile 98210 55520. Tel 2366 5500
rkd@middaymeal.com
Food for Life in Japan – Week 7 & 8
Jun 10th
Food for Life volunteers serving hot vegetable curry
May 29, Miyagi, Japan – Food for Life Japan continued to provide sumptuous vegetarian meals to survivors of Japan’s worst natural disaster. Despite the heavy rains, 34 volunteers travelled the arduous distance to the shelters to serve sandwiches, soups, pasta, cakes, chips, cookies, and orange juice, along with 1,200kg of fresh fruits and vegetables.
The latest efforts were jointly sponsored by the Indian Jewelry and Diamond association, Jatin Patel, Samir Bodhe, Jishad Abubacker, Nalnish Agarwa and Aravind Mohoanram.
The Hare Krishna Govinda’s restaurant team have been providing the hot vegetarian meals for all seven weeks.
Photos:
June 5th, Miyagi, Japan — One of the most hectic weeks for Food for Life Japan, but more than 800 people received a delicious lunch, consisting of two vegetable curries, roti, salad, juices and snacks, along with another truck load of fresh fruits and vegetables.
To date, more than 5400 people have been served a hot dinner and over 24,000 people have been served with breakfast and lunch via Food for Life Japan’s donation of fruits and vegetables.
The meals were sponsored by Navin Sonak of the Sekaiboeki company and Mr. Jaju Ji of Recon Gems.
Once again, ISKCON’s Govinda’s restaurant provided the hot meals.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
An enormous effort is required throughout the whole cycle from preparation to distribution. Food for Life Japan is seeking help for driving, transportation, shopping,cutting vegetables, cooking, packing, distribution, cleaning, and donations in kind and/or cash. If you know of someone who can help, please alert them to the opportunities available. Finally, please pray for the affected. Sincere prayers are mighty then Tsunami and will always help. We welcome your suggestions or comments to further assist in this important service.
ONLINE DONATIONS
- Donate directly to Food for Life Japan
- Donate through Food for Life Global – Emergency Fund (tax deductible with the USA)
Emergency Relief
For US Residents seeking a tax deduction, please donate to the Food for Life Global emergency fund to help FFLG coordinate disaster relief when the need arises. We are currently sending all emergency donations to Japan.
WHERE CAN WE SEND OUR OFFERING?
1. Kind Donations may be delivered at the ISKCON Temple in Funabori.
2. ONLINE DONATIONS: (Japan residents) http://iskconjapan.com/online-donation.html
Please email or call for further details: iskcon.new.gaya.japan@gmail.com
Mobile: 090-1469-6129, 090-5803-8971,080-3753-5097, 080-5405-8977, 090-8053-6321
